Pilgrim Pin Set

Bonnie Willey

These Pilgrim Pins are easy to make and fun to wear for Thanksgiving.

Getting Started

Preheat oven to 275 °F. Test temperature with oven thermometer for perfectly cured clay. Condition all clay by kneading until it’s soft and smooth or running it through the Clay Conditioning Machine for several passes on the widest setting. Fold the clay in half after each pass and insert the fold side into the rollers first.

Step 1 General

Roll two 17/32" balls of Beige clay. Flatten into a ¾" circle. Roll two 1/16" balls of Beige clay for noses.

Step 2 General

Hair is Tan rolled out at #3 setting, using 3/8" teardrop punch

Step 3 General

Working with White clay, rolled out at #2 setting on Clay Conditioning Machine. (Working with White clay make, sure your hands and punches are clean. Use baby wipes to clean with)

Step 4 General

Cut out two 1" hearts from White clay rolled out at thickest setting on Clay Conditioning Machine. Trim off the pointed end, approx. ¼".

Step 1 Man Pilgrim

Working with Black clay rolled out at thickest setting on Clay Conditioning Machine, Doubled, punch out 5/8" square, reshape by making one end narrower (see Photo of parts). Cut out a strip of black with rectangle cutter, this makes the brim of the hat.

Step 2 Man Pilgrim

Roll Stonewash out at #3 setting on Clay Conditioning Machine, cut a strip with the rectangle cutter, for the hat brim.

Step 3 Man Pilgrim

Gold clay rolled out at #3 setting punch a ¼" square, with 3/16" circle punch, punch circle out of the middle, which you will use as the button on the collar. Punch one circle for the Lady Pilgrim.

Step 1 Assemble Man Pin

Press head ¼" down on the upside down heart (See Photo of Parts).

Step 2 Assemble Man Pin

Press hat on top of head. Wrap hat band around the base of the hat, pressing ends on the back.

Step 3 Assemble Man Pin

Press hair on to the sides of the head. Add brim of hat over part of hat band and over part of the head.

Step 4 Assemble Man Pin

Press in seed beads for eyes, using needle tool, add details to the eyes and eyebrows.

Step 5 Assemble Man Pin

Press nose in middle of face.

Step 6 Assemble Man Pin

Draw a smile or you can use a straw and press it half way into clay. Dot corners of mouth and add pink chalk to the dots.

Step 7 Assemble Man Pin

Press the 3/16" circle in the middle of the collar. Dot with Needle Tool to make button holes

Step 1 Assemble Lady Pin

Repeat Step number 1 of Man Pilgrim

Step 2 Assemble Lady Pin

Hat is cut from White clay rolled out at thickest setting on Clay Conditioning Machine, using the flower cutter, cut in half. Round out the petal on the hat. Cut a 1" circle, using the same cutter, cut again ¼" from the edge (See Photo of Parts). Press on top of the head. Using the Needle Tool add detail (wrinkles) to the hat.

Step 3 Assemble Lady Pin

Add hair on the sides of the head.

Step 4 Assemble Lady Pin

Press the brim of the hat over the base of the hat and top of head; wrap ends to back of head.

Step 5 Assemble Lady Pin

Repeat steps 4 thru 7 of assembling Man Pilgrim.

Step 1 Finishing

Place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Step 2 Finishing

Bake according to manufacturer’s directions. Let completely cool.

Step 3 Finishing

Glue pin back with E-6000.